Six pea varieties developed at the University of Saskatchewan’s Crop Development Centre (CDC) will be heading south this spring, hoping to make a splash in the American market.
Officials from the CDC and Canterra Seeds announced March 30 that they have finalized a deal that will give Canterra’s U.S. affiliate — Meridian Seeds — access to six CDC pea varieties beginning this year.
Meridian will gain exclusive U.S. rights to multiply and distribute CDC Amarillo, CDC Meadow, CDC Patrick, CDC Raezer, CDC Saffron and CDC Treasure pea varieties to growers south of the border.
Read Also
Alberta crop conditions improve: report
Varied precipitation and warm temperatures were generally beneficial for crop development across Alberta during the week ended July 8, according to the latest provincial crop report released July 11.
Canterra won the rights to distribute the CDC pea varieties in the United States in early 2015 following an open bid competition.
Since then, Canterra, Meridian and the CDC have been working together to determine which varieties should be included in the agreement.
Pedigreed supplies of the first six varieties will be exported to Meridian Seeds’ seed grower members this year, in time for spring 2016 planting.
Additional varieties will be added to the list as they become available.
Meridian, like Canterra in Canada, is a network of seed grower shareholders who grow and distribute pedigreed seed to commercial farmers.
The company has members in 12 states and has doubled in size over the past three years, according to a news release issued by Canterra.
“Growers have been eager to get their hands on these varieties here in the U.S.,” said Meridian’s general manager, Andy Draeger.
“The CDC pea varieties have performed very well in U.S. trials, and we expect uptake to be swift this spring.”
Kofi Agblor, CDC’s managing director, said the deal with Canterra and Meridian will benefit Canadian as well as American growers because royalties derived from the deal will be reinvested into CDC breeding programs.
“We are pleased to have concluded this agreement with Canterra Seeds and Meridian Seeds ensuring high performing CDC varieties will continue to be marketed to U.S. producers,” said Agblor.
“We fully expect U.S. pea growers will continue to patronize CDC varieties and are committed to re-investing the resulting royalties into the development of even better pea varieties for growers.”
Contact brian.cross@producer.com
